Family in Town (or visiting NYC)? Here’s our go to list!
We asked some friends of Like A Local Tours for their go to spots when family or friends are in town. Some great recommendations!
Manish Engineer, Project Director at MOMA.
I like to take people to Roberta’s Pizza in Bushwick (obvious one), and by us (in Clinton Hill) there’s Locanda Vini e Olii. It’s like an old apothecary Italian spot.
We just took some out of towners to the two new Grant Achatz cocktail bars, The Aviary and The Office. Both were awful. Service was bad to horrendous and The Office was nothing special. Aviary had some fancy cocktails that were in a plastic bag filled with smoke or some weird frozen thing. But overpriced and nothing tasty.
The mecca of South Indian food is Saravana Bhavan, that’s where legit Indians go for dosa: https://www.yelp.com/biz/saravana-bhavan-new-york-2
I usually try to go to Vegetarian Dim Sum House or Buddha Bodai (also has vegetarian dim sum and is kosher! Fun to see a mix of Orthodox, Buddhist East Asians, and Indians there.). Both are in Chinatown.
There’s also a lot of great Nepalese (Nepali?) food in Jackson Heights we’ve been hitting up lately. I think Anthony Bourdain did a whole episode there. Some of the spiciest food ever (even for an Indian.)
Liz Teich, Stylist
lizteich.com / blog = thebrooklynstylist.com
The Highline — always my go-to. My favorite thing to do with out of towners is walk around nyc all day!
Also love my usual spots like Clover Club (great cocktails or dinner), The Wayland (brunch), or The Wild Son (breakfast/lunch).
Emily Kammeyer, Accessories Designer.
-Dyker Heights for Christmas decoration madness
-High tea at the Plaza Hotel
-Windows at Saks and down 5th Avenue
-Tree lighting at Washington Square Park
Balthazar
Lauren Beebe, Founder, Like A Local Tours
Breakfast or lunch at Balthazar then Artists & Fleas in Soho
Whitney Museum + High Line + West Chelsea Art Galleries — then visit Story for shopping, High Line Hotel for coffee or hot chocolate and Cookshop restaurant if we are hungry
Bryant Park Ice Skating (or sip hot chocolate and watch!)
Rolf’s (see photo below. go early to avoid the crowds!)
Walter Hoffman, Actor and Like A Local Tour Guide
I love to take people to places that aren’t overrun with people during the busy holiday season. The Cooper Hewitt Museum, The Bronx Botanical Gardens, The Brooklyn Museum, The Schomburg, and the Coney Island Boardwalk are some faves that always make people happy. Also, the Cloisters!